At-Home Tips To Clear A Clogged Drain

If you own a home or rent an apartment, you might encounter a clogged drain from time to time. If you do, you can contact your landlord or a plumber, but you can also try to clear the clogged drain yourself. In many cases, you can clear a clogged drain with just a few household items, and trying it yourself is worth a shot. Here are some ideas you can try before you reach out to a plumber in your city.

Pour Hot Water into the Drain

Using boiling hot water to clean a drain can offer an effective way to get the job done. If you have a clogged drain, heat up some water and pour it into the drain. Boiling hot water can eat through built-up debris inside drainpipes. Additionally, some plumbers recommend pouring boiling hot water down drains every month to prevent clogs from forming. Using this method for preventative purposes can also be highly effective if you experience clogs frequently.

Use a Plunger

The second option to consider trying involves a plunger. Most people have a plunger around their home, and this option can also work well if you know how to use it correctly. To use a plunger to clear a line, you must place the plunger over the drain. You should aim to avoid air gaps in the fixture, as air gaps reduce the amount of suction you get with the plunger. Next, push the plunger down tightly and lift it up. If you repeat this motion repeatedly, you might suck up the debris that caused the clog in your pipe. Using a plunger works well in most plumbing fixtures if they have minor clogs.

Try a Drain Snake

The other option is to use a drain snake. You can buy cheap drain snakes or expensive ones, but cheap ones work fairly well for most minor drain clogs. If you have a drain snake, you must insert it into the drain. Next, you can push it around and up and down to try to work through the clog. When you pull it up out of the fixture, it might pull up some debris with it, freeing the clog.

Call a Plumber or HVAC Contractor

Most HVAC contractors and plumbers offer drain cleaning services. They have high-quality equipment and tools to break through the toughest clogs that you can free yourself. Contact a contractor today to schedule services for your clogged drain.

For more information, contact a plumber near you.